Question about Lemon trees

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Cordeledawg Cordele, GA(Zone 8a) Aug 20, 2007

According to plantfiles, Improved Meyer's Lemon tree is hardy in my zone 8a.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/78286/
Can I plant it in the ground to leave in the yard year around? It came in a large pot with a tag that says to protect from freezing temperatures. My area in South Georgia does drop below freezing sometimes like in Feb and March and April this past year was an exception from the norm. The tree is to be used as a host tree for Giant Swallowtails. That's why I prefer planting it. I may not get much bf activity with it in a pot on my patio. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Also is this tree an evergreen that means to keep its leaves year around?

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bettydee La Grange, TX(Zone 8b) Aug 21, 2007

Meyer lemons are hardy down to the mid to low 20s. In areas that are frost free or if the tree is wintered in a greenhouse, it is evergreen. Large mature Meyer lemon trees are capable of surviving those lows, but a young and small one may not. I would advise you cover it whenever frost is predicted for the first winter or two.
Planting it in a protected area will help.

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Cordeledawg Cordele, GA(Zone 8a) Aug 21, 2007

Thank you betty. I was thinking about planting it on the west side of my house in a flower bed next to my sunroom windows. It would also be close enough to put Christmas lights on it in the winter time since it would be near my patio too.

When could I prune it? Some of the limbs are waywardly longer and drooper than others.

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bettydee La Grange, TX(Zone 8b) Aug 21, 2007

It is usually not necessary to prune cirus as they will usually fill in over time, but if you need to improve its look, prune late winter before new growth begins. Don't top a branch leaving a stub. Prune all the way down to where the branch begins.

A word before you plant it. From what direction do winter winds flow? Here the worst winter weather comes from the northwest. This is true for many areas.

This message was edited Aug 20, 2007 10:31 PM

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Cordeledawg Cordele, GA(Zone 8a) Aug 21, 2007

Yep, that's true here too.

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